Wire splicing tool



June 19, 1934. QRUSSA 1,963,144

WIRE SPLICING TOOL Filed June 5, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 a Q T- I.

.38 40 zzj z' J6 48 Zarezzce flfzzssa L. ORUSSA 1,963,344

WIRE SPLICING TOOL June 19, 1934.

Filed June 5, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7%? MM" rig 132 Lorezzce OfiwscaPatented June 19, 1934 UNITED STATES WIRE SPLICING TOOL Lorence ORussa,Princeville, Ill., assignor to Mathias Klein & Sons, Chicago, 111., acorporation of Illinois Application June 5, 1933, Serial No. 674,835

5 Claims.

My invention relates generally to wire splicing tools, and moreparticularly to ratchet type sleeve twisters.

At present it is common practice to secure the .5 ends of a pair ofconductors together by passing a copper or similar sleeve over theoverlapping ends of the conductors to be joined and twisting the sleevewith the ends of the wires contained therein, thereby making a tightmechanical and a good electrical connection between the ends of theconductors.

It is frequently necessary to splice conducting wires in a relativelyconfined space or to splice wires which lie closely adjacent other liveconductors. Under these circumstances an ordinary clamp type wiresplicing tool having the handles fixedly joined to the die is difficultand dangerous to manipulate. I have therefore provided an improvedsleeve twisting tool in which a ratchet connection is utilized betweenthe die and the handle.

It is thus an object of my invention to provide an improved ratchet typesleeve twisting tool which is simple in construction, will be durable,and which may be economically produced.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved ratchet typesleeve twisting tool in which the dies may be easily and securelyclamped around the sleeve and conductors.

A further object is to provide an improved ratchet type sleeve twistingtool in which a single die may be utilized for a plurality of differentsizes of sleeves, and in which any one of a plurality of dies ofdifferent sizes may be used with a single handle and ratchet mechanism.

Other objects will appear from the following description, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is an elevation of the wire splicing tool shown inoperativeposition;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the sleeve engaging dies, portions thereofbeing broken away to show the clamping arrangement;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig.2 showing the reverse sides of the dies;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of the ratchet socket head;

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the ratchet socket with one of the side platesremoved;

50 Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig.l;

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of a modified form of ratchet type sleevetwister;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the major portion thereof taken on theline 8-8 of Fig. '7;

Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view showing the (v means for clamping andlocking the dies together;

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the ratchet head;

Fig. 1-1 is a sectional view taken on the line 60 1111 of Fig. '7; and vFig. 12 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 12-12 of Fig.'7.

The sleeve twisting tool shown in Fig. ,1 comprises a pair of dies 20and .22, the ends of which are pivoted to the ends respectively of alink 24. The die 20 has a slot 26 formed therein to receive the head 28of a locking bolt 30, which is pivoted on a shouldered rivet 32 securedto the die 20. The threaded shank 34 of the locking bolt 70 is adaptedto project through a slot 36 in the end of the die 22. A nut 38 isthreaded on the shank 34 of the locking bolt, the nut having a handlearm 40 formed integrally therewith. The dies 20 and 22 each have sleeveengaging r-ecess 42 which is complementally shaped to engage a sleeve44. and press it tightly about the conductors 46 and 48. On theiropposite faces the dies have similar recesses 50 for engagement with asleeve of larger size. Each of the dies has an irregularly shapedsidewardly extending lug 52. When the dies are clamped over a sleeve asshown in Fig. 2, these lugs together form a hexagonal sidewardlyextending boss. The lugs 52 are relieved at 54 so as normally not tocontact with the sleeve. Similar irregularly shaped sideward projections56 are formed on the opposite sides of the dies.- It will thus beapparent that the locking nut 38 may be loosened and the bolt swungupwardly out of the slot 36, whereupon the die 20 (Fig. 3) may be swungin the .direction of the arrows to the dotted line position, and thebolt again engaged in the slot 26 and tightened .to clamp the die abouta larger size sleeve, in this instance utilizing the recesses 50 in thedie for engagement with the sleeve. When in this position the lugs 56will together form a hexagonal sidewardly extending boss.

The sidewardly extending hexagonal bosses formed by the lugs orprojections .52, and by the 00 lugs 56, are adapted to engage in thehexagonal socket opening 60 formed in a ratchet wheel 62. The ratchetwheel has a sidewardly extending hub 64 journaled in the side plate 66and a hub 68 on its opposite side journaled in a side plate '70. Theside plates 66 and '70 are secured to a handle '72 by a plurality ofscrews 74. The ratchet wheel 62 has a plurality of teeth 76 formedthereon which are adapted to be engaged by a spring pressed pawl '78which isreciprocable in a T- no being retained in said slot by the sideplates 66 and 70. The ratchet wheel 62 has a slot 82 extending from itsperiphery to the socket 60 and the side plates 66 and '70 have slots 84which are adapted to register with the slot 82 as indicated in Fig. 5.The slots preferably extend at an angle to the major axis of the tool sothat the tool may hang suspended from a wire even though the slots 82and 84 be aligned. The handle 72 is preferably covered with a layer 86of insulating material and is preferably provided with a hole 88 forpermitting attachment of the tool to the linemans belt.

In using the tool the dies 20 and 22 are first clamped about the end ofthe sleeve which has been placed over the overlapping ends of the wiresto be spliced, and clamped suniciently tightly to deform the sleeveabout the wires, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The ratchet wheel 62 is thenrotated until its slot '82 is in alignment with the slots 84 so that itmay be passed over one of the conducting wires and pushed sidewardly toengage the hexagonal projection formed by the lugs 52 in the socket 60.The other end of the sleeve 44 may be engaged by a similar tool or, by amore simple plier type of clamp. Thereafter, by swinging the handle backand forth, the sleeve may be twisted to the form shown in Fig. 1,thereby tightly splicing the ends of the wires, whereupon the tool maybe quickly'and easily disengaged from the wire.

The splicing tool shown in Figs. 7 to 12 inclusive is generally similarto that above described, but is of a construction well suited for makingsmaller tools of this general type. The dies 90, 92 are pivoted to theends respectively of links 94 and are arranged to be clamped togetherover a splicing sleeve by a locking cam 96 formed integrally with ahandle 98 and pivoted on a pin 100. The ends of the pin 100 are rivetedin links 102, which are in turn pivotally connected tothe die 90. Thelocking cam 96 is adapted to engage in a shallow recess 104 formed inthe die 92. The die halves 90, 92 have transverse grooves formed intheir faces which together present a plurality of figure 8 shapedopenings 110 in which the splicing sleeve 112 together with itsconductors 114 may be clamped when the locking handle 98 is moved to theposition in which it is shown in Fig. 8. The -.openings 110 arepreferably of different sizes to; accommodate various sized sleeves. Thedies are provided with pairs of holes 116, '118, and 120, one pair foreach of the sleeve-receiving openings 110. The ratchet stop,

.best shown in Figs. 7, l0 and 11, preferably comprises a forging 122having a handle 124 formed integrally therewith. The body of the forgingis 'bored and counter-bored to provide a cylindrical recess 126 and atransverse opening 128. A ratchet wheel 130 has a sidewardly extendinghub portion 132 journaled in the opening 128 and has a plurality ofteeth 134 arranged to be engaged by a pawl 136 which is guided in a hole138 drilled in the body forging 122. The plunger pawl 136 is pressedtoward the ratchet wheel by a compression spring 140 which rests withina socket 142 formed in a handle 144. The latter may be threaded orotherwise suitably secured to the body forging 122. The ratchet wheel isheld within the counter-bore 126 by a plate 146 which may be welded orotherwise suitably secured to the body forging 122.

The ratchet wheel 130 has a pair of pins 148 threaded therein, thesepins being properly headed slot formed in the handle '72, the pawlspaced on a diametral line of the ratchet wheel so as to be engageablein one of the pairs of holes 116, 118, 120 formed in the dies 90 and 92,depending upon the size of the connection sleeve being twisted. It willbe noted that the body forging 122 has a slot 156 and the ratchet wheela similar slot 152 which slots, when in registry, permit the tool to bepassed over a wire or sleeve, whereupon the tool may be moved sidewardlyto couple with a pair of dies 90, 92 which have been previously rigidlyclamped to the sleeve to be twisted.

The tool is used in the same manner as above described with reference tothe tool shown in Figs. 1 to ,6 inclusive.

The use of the pins 148 instead of a hexagonal boss on the dies makes itpossible to provide a single die with a plurality of jaw parts forengagement with sleeves of different sizes and yet have the turningmovement about the axis of the sleeve being twisted.

While I have shown and described particular embodiments of my inventionit will be readily understood by those skilled in the art thatvariations maybe made in the constructions disclosed without departingfrom the basic features of my invention. I therefore do not wish to belimited to the precise construction disclosed but wish to include withinthe scope of my invention all such modifications and variations whichwill readily suggest themselves.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by United States LettersPatent, is:

1. A wire splicing tool comprising a pair of cooperating dies, means forclamping said dies about a Wire connecting sleeve to compress the latterabout the wires, a handle having a head, a ratchet wheel mounted forrotation in said head, a pawl engageable therewith, said head andratchet wheel having slots therein to permit the wire to be spliced topass therethrough to substantially the center of said ratchet wheel, andquickly detachable interengaging means on said dies and on said ratchetwheel for rotating the former by rotation of the latter.

2. A wire splicing tool comprising a pair of cooperating dies, eachhaving a plurality of complementary wire connecting sleeve engagingsurfaces, means for clamping said dies about a connecting sleeve, a,plurality of pairs of holes in said dies one for each of saidcomplemental sleeve engaging surfaces, a rotating ratchet mechanismhaving a ratchet wheel, and a pair of pins projecting from the side ofsaid ratchet wheel and engageable in any one of the said pairs of holesin said dies whereby said dies may be rotated by means of said ratchetmechanism.

3. In a wire splicing tool, the combination of 'a handle having a head,said head having a wire receiving slot formed therein, a ratchetwheelrotatably mounted in said head and having a wire receiving slotformed therein, a pawl engageable with said ratchet wheel, a pair ofdies constructed and arranged to be clamped to a wire connecting sleeve,and quick-detachable interfitting 'non-rotative means for connectingsaid dies to said ratchet wheel for rotation thereby.

4. Ina wire splicing tool, the combination of a pair of dies, a linkpivotally connecting said dies, clamping means to draw said diestogether about a'wire connecting sleeve, and lugs extending sidewardlyfrom said dies, said lugs being shaped to form a regular polygon whensaid dies are clamped together over a sleeve.

to permit a wire to be passed transversely into the central opening insaid ratchet wheel, and a pair of dies having means for clamping them toa connecting sleeve, said dies having sidewardly extending lugs forminga polygonal projection cooperable with the central opening in saidratchet wheel.

LORENCE ORUSSA.

